Folding machine



. 1929. v A. R. RIDDERSTROM 1,740,413

FOLDING MACHINE Original filed July 17, 1923 2. Sheets-Sheet l [Mew tor flnalrewfifhdiengtmm I Hktqm e Dec. 17, 1929. RlDDE isTRoM 1,740,413

FOLDING MACHINE Original Filed July 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fn/ven tor Patented Dec. 17, 1929 cream ANDREYV R. RIDDERS'IROM, 0F NAHANT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNGR, BY Ii/IESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 UNITED SHOE IVIACHINERY COP-.EOBATION, 0F PA'IlERSOh NEW JERSEY, A COREOBATION OF NEW JERSEY FOLDING MACHINE Original application filed July 17, 1923, Serial No. 652,169. Divided and this application filed December 13, 1924. -Serial No. 755,676.

The present invention relates to machines for operating upon flexible material, and more particularly to macnines -for iiohling the margins of shoe uppers, such as Vamps, quarters, tips and the like.

The margins of some kinds oit shoe uppers are provided with sharply concave or convex curves, during" the folding of which it is desirable to slow down the feed. It is not desirable to employ the slow feed in all cases, because aight, or nearly straight, margins should be led rapidly, in order to save time.

An obj ect of the invention is to provide new and lll'lpl'OYQCl means for varying the feed.

Other and further objects will be explained in the tollowingr description, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that the invention consists of the folding machine a preferred emhodiment of which is illustrated and described herein and that it intended to express in the appended claims all the novelty that the invention may possess.

in the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a VlOW in side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, or a machine constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present in veution; Fig.2 a perspective View of the torward portion of the machine; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the machine, upon a smaller scale; Fig. l is a longitudinal, vertical section of the forward portion of the machine; Fig. 5 a transverse section, taken upon the line of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; (5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the improved. feed-varyinn mechanism; Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken upon the line T'? of 6, lookingin the direction of the arrows; Fig. 8 is a vertical sect Bil taken upon the line 8-43 of Fig. 7, lookingin the direction of the arrows; and

9 is a view of a detail.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a folding n'iachine for folding the margins of shoe uppers, such as vamps, quarters and the like. The machine is provided with a lower t'ccd block 5i and an upper feed point 30, between which a sheet 0 lexible material, like a shoe upper, is intermittently gripped, and by which the sheet is led or advanced,

step by step, over a platform or support 24, to a folder or plow that initiates a fold in successive portions of the margin 01 the material. A fold presser d2 presses the fold flat against the body of the upper during pauses in the feed. A retainer 153 holds the stool; against the support during the pauses in the feed. The details of construction of the folder, the fold presser, the retainer, and their operating mechanisms, are not described herein, berause unnecessary to an understanding of the present invention, and because other folders, told pressers and retainers, and other operating mechanisms may equally wellbe employed without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention. The illustrated folder, told presser, retainer and operating mechanisms are fully described in a copending application. Serial No. 652,169, filed July 17, 1923, of which the present ap plication is a division.

The feed block 41 is shown more particularly in F 4 as rigidly secured to, or integral with, a holder 93 that is secured, as by a set screw, to a rocking or oscillating support 9%. The rocking support is pivotally mounted about a rod 96 that is secured to the "frame of the machine by a screw 98. The feed point 80 is pivotally mounted at 110 upon the rocking support 94:, so as to be rocked therewith and with the lower teed block d1.

An arm member 36 is also pivotally mount ed to rock or oscillate about the rod 96. The member 86 is provided with a diagonally disposed, cylindrical opening 100, within which is slidingly mounted a diagonally cylindrical block 102 the upper iiat face of which is substantially horizontal, as shown at 104. The angle of inclination of the opening 100 is preferably in the neighborhood of thirty degrees. The cylindrical block 102 is adapted to be actuated by an eccentric or crank pin 106 of a driving shaft- 66. The eccentric or crank pin is rotatably mounted in the block 102 and extends through an open-- ing 108 of the rocking member llotative movement of the shaft will be converted by the eccentric into combined sliding and oscillating or rotative movement of the block 102 and this, in turn, will eiiect a rocking movement of the rocking member 36 about the rod 96. A compression coiled spring 38, terposed between the rocking support 94 and the rocking member 36, yieldingly connects the rocking support 94 to the rocking member 36 to cause them to rock or oscillate together, as a unit. The coiled spring 38 yieldingly maintains an arm 39 of the rocking support 94 in engagement with an adjustable portion 40 of the rocking member 36. The adjustable portion 40 of the rocking member 36 is shown as a set screw. 4

The feed point 30 is normally yieldingly maintained in contact with the feed block 41 by a compression coil spring 112 coiled about a threat ed rod 114 extending through an opening 116 in the feed-point arm 118 and secured at 43 to the rocking support 94. By means of the threads upon the rod 114, the pressure of the spring 112 upon the feed point may be adjusted, the ends of the spring being' confined between the feed-point arm 118 and a knurled nut 124 that is threaded upon the rod 114. The feed-point arm 118 is provided with an adjustable screw 120. The upper face 104 of the block 102 is adapted to engage the screw 120, thereby to raise the feed point in opposition to the pressure of the spring 112. An additional adjustable memher 123 is provided to prevent the feed point becoming lowered into contact with the feed block when the machine is running idly, thereby preventing the feed point pounding uselessly against the feed block when no stock is interposed.

As the driving shaft 66 is rotated, the rocking support 94 is rocked from right to left and from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 5, imparting an oscillating movement to the lower feed block 41 and the upper feed point 30 which are carried thereby. During the left-to-right movement, the feed point 30 will be separated from the feed block 41 by the action of the cylindrical block 102, which then occupies its upper positions. During the right-to-left movement, the block 102 will lie in the lower portions of the cylindrical opening 100, and the feed point will be springpressed into engagement with the feed block, which will thus advance to the fold presser the upper clamped therebetween.

Curved portions of the work should not be fed so rapidly as straightportions. The above-described construction affords a novel means for varying the lengths of the feed steps, so as to feed the work by greater or by shorter feed strokes, at will. To this end, all that is necessary is to adjust angularly the rocking support 94 closer to, or farther from, the rocking member 36. The limits of oscillation of the rocking member 36 are, of course, fixed; but the farther away from the rocking member 36 that the rocking support 94 is adjusted, the farther to the left, as viewed in Fig.5, will the rocking support 94, with the feed point and the feed block carried thereby, oscillate. The limit of oscillation towards the left may be fixed initiallyby means of the screw 40, and this will determine the maximum length of the steps of feed. The steps may then be shortened during the operation of the machine by pressing the rocking support 94, or the arm 39 thereof, in opposition to the force exerted by the spring 38, towards the right, as viewed in Fig. 5.

This is accomplished, according to the embodiment of the invention that is herein illustrated and described, by pressing upward and to the right, in the direction of the curved arrow, Fig. 5, about the rod 96, upon an arm that projects out from the arm 39 of the rocking support 94, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. The free end of the arm 45 is adapted to be engaged by the free end of an arm 122 that is pivoted to the frame of the machine at 143. Pivotal movement of the arm 122 may be effected by a vertically disposed arm 145 the upper end of which is pivoted to the arm 122 at 147. The lower portion of the arm 145 is adapted to be engaged by either of two cams 29 and 31, shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9 as provided upon a single cam member 46. Rocking the cam member 46 in either direction will cause the cam 29 or the cam 31, as the case may be, to raise the arm 145. Raising the arm 145 will eflect pivotal movement of the arm 122, the free end of which will engage the arm 45 to press the latter upward, thereby adjustably limiting the length of the feed steps. The action may be adjusted by means of an adjustable member 149, shown as a screw, mounted at the free end of the arm 122.

The cam 29 has a higher throw than the cam 31. The cam 29 therefore permit-s of a more rapid adjustment than the cam 31, and provides also for agreater range of adjustment. Either cam may be actuated to any desireddegree up to a maximum, adjustable limit. The use of two cams is desirable in connection with the snipping mechanism illustrated and described in the aforesaid application. To actuate the cam member 46, it is secured to one end of a rock shaft 151 that extends transversely across the machine, and to the other end of which is secured a lever 17 6. The lever 176 is connected by a link 1178 to a lever 179 that is secured to a rock shaft 188. The rock shaft 188 is provided with two fixed arms 183 and 185 that are respectively connected to treadle rods 187 and 189. By actuating one or the other treadle rod, therock shaft 188 will be rocked in one or the other direction, and the rocking movement of the rock shaft will be communicated, through the link 17 8 and the lever 176, to the rock shaft 151, thereby rocking the cam member 46 in one or the other direction. The treadle rods 18? and 189 may be connected to opposite ends of a single treadle (not shown).

Before the machine is started, it is desirable to raise the feed point from the feed block to permit the insertion of the upper there between. A preferred construction for raising the feed point comprises a rod 300 that is vertically disposed in an opening 302 of the rocking support 94. The rod 300 rests upon the head of a rod 304 that is slidably mounted in a vertically disposed opening 306 provided transversely through the rod 96. To raise the feed point, therefore, it is only necessary to raise the rod 304. The rod 304 is adapted to be raised by an adjustable member 312 at one end of a lever 307 pivoted at 308 and that is normally maintained in the illustrated position by a Weight 310 that is adapted to rest against an adjustable member 315. A handle 313, that extends through an opening 316 in the frame of the machine, is adapted to be actuated by the operator so as to cause the raising of the rods 304 and 300 and, through them, of the feed point 30.

In the above-described manner, the rocking member 36 and the rocking support 94 may be rocked or oscillated as a unit, provision being made, however, for adjust-ably limiting the degree of oscillation of the rocking support 94 and, therefore, adj ustably limiting the lengths of the feed steps of the feed block 41 and the feed point 30 that are carried by the rocking support 94. The treadle rods 187 and 189 provide for operating the rock shafts 151 and 188 in opposite directions to effect a variation in the lengths of the feed steps in the same direction,namely, a shortening or diminution of the feed steps.

The limits of movement of the treadle rods 18'? and 189 may be adj ustably controlled by adjustable stop screws 394 and 396, secured to arms 398 and 400 that are rigidly secured to the rock shaft 188 and acting against abutments 402 and 404 provided upon the frame.

Any intermediate movement short of these limiting movements may, of course, be imparted to the treadle rods, but the feed steps will not, in that event, be shortened by quite so great an amount.

Instead of controlling the feed variation by treadles, the control may be effected by the operators knee. The knee may be placed between arms 406 and 408, Fig. 1, provided at the lower end of a rocking shaft 410 that is disposed in a vertical bearing 412. The upper end of the shaft 410 is connected by a universal joint 414 to one end of a link 416 the other end of which is connected by a universal joint 418 to the arm 17 9. By moving the knee to the left or the right, therefore, the shaft 410 will be rocked in the one or the other direction, effecting the same control over the feed as before described. In the aforesaid application, there is disclosed also a snippiug knife 352, together with actuating mechanism therefor under the control of the same treadle rod (not shown) that controls cation.

the variation of the feed. A description of the same is omitted from the present application in order not to distract the attention from the features of novelty constituting the present invention.

Many details of the illustrative machine have not been illustrated herein, and many illustrated parts have not been described, because unnecessary to an understanding of the present invention, and because full particulars may be obtained in the aforesaid appli- The elements of novelty, furthermore, though fully explained, are by no means restricted to the exact embodiments thereof that are illustrated and described herein. Modifications and changes will readily occur to persons skilled in theart, and all such are considered to fall within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

1V hat is claimed is:

1. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a frame, means pivotally mounted on the frame for feeding material, means for oscillating the feeding means about its pivot, and means yieldingly connecting the feeding means and the oscillating means to cause them to oscillate as a unit.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding material, means for oscillating the feeding means, means for yieldingly connecting the feeding means and the oscillating means'to cause them to oscillate as a unit, and means for adj ustably limiting the oscillation of the feeding means to vary the length of the feed strokes.

3. A machine of the class described having, incombination, means adapted to pivot about an axis to feed material, means adapted to pivot about the axis for oscillating the feeding means, means for yieldingly connecting the feeding means and the oscillating means to cause them to pivotally oscillate about the axis as a unit, and means for adj ustably limiting the oscillation of the feeding means.

4. A folding machine having, in combination, means for folding the margin of material, means for feeding the material, means for oscillating the feeding means, and means yieldingly connecting the feeding means and the oscillating means to cause them to oscillate as a unit.

5. A folding machine having, in combination, means for folding the margin of material, means for feeding the material, means for oscillating the feeding means, means for yieldingly connecting the feeding means and the oscillating means to cause them to oscillate as a unit, and means for adjustably limiting the oscillation of the feeding means.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a frame, a support pivotally mounted on the frame, means for feeding material adapted to move with the support, means for pivotally oscillating the support about its pivot, and means yieldingly connecting-the support and the oscillating. means to. cause them to oscillate as a unit.

7. A folding machine having, in combination, means for folding the margin of material, a pivotally mounted support, means for feeding the material to the folding means adapted to move With the support, means pivotally mounted about the pivotal axis of the support adapted to effect pivotal oscillation of the support, means for oscillating the pivotally mounted means, means yieldingly connecting the support and the pivotally mounted means to cause them to oscillate as a unit, and means for adj-usta'bl'y limiting the degree of oscillation of the support to adjustably' limit the eX-tentof feeding action of the feeding means.

8 A folding, machine having, in combination, means for folding the margin of mate rial, a pivotally mounted support having a projecting arm, means for feeding, the material to the folding means mounted upon the support so as tomove with the support, means adapted to: effect pivotal oscillation of the support, means for oscillating the pivotally mounted means, a coil spring interposed between tlie support and the pivotally mounted means for causing the support and the pivotal'ly mounted mea-nsto oscillate as a unit, and means adapted to be adjustably positioned in thepa-t'h of oscillation of the projecting arm to adjustably limit the degree of oscillation of the support to adjustably limit the extent of feeding action ofthe feeding. means.

9. A folding machine having, in combina.- tion, means for folding the margin of material, a pivotally mounted support, a feed bloclc rigidly secured tothe support, afeed: point pivoted to the support, an arm pivot-- ally mounted? about the pivotal axis of. the

support having a diagonally disposed cylin drical opening, a diagonally cylindrical block slidingly mounted in. the opening, an eccentric for actuating, the block to cause the oscil lation of the arm, means yieldingly connecting the arm and the support to cause them to oscillate as a unit, the feed block and the feed point being adapted to feed the material stepby step to the folding means during the for Ward oscillation of the arm and the support, the block being adapted to separate the feed: point from the feed block during the return oscillations of the arm and the support, and means for adjustably limiting the degree of oscillation of the support to adjust-ably limit the extent of feeding action of. the feeding means. 7

10. A. machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding material, and means operable in opposite directions to effect a unidirectional variation inthe feed in. response toan operation in either ofthe said opposite. directions.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding matema ame;-

rial step by step, and means operable in two directions to effect a unidirectional variation in the lengths ofthesteps of feed in response to an operation in either of the two direct-ions.

12. Av machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding material step by ste'p, means for adjustably limiting the lengths of the steps of feed, a pivoted cam having tWo cam faces on opposite sides of the pivot each adapted to effect the actuation of the limiting means in the same direction, and means for pivotally operating the cam in opposite dirertions about its pivot.

13. A folding machine having, in combination, means for folding the margin of material, means for feeding the material to the folding means step by step, and means operable in twodirections to effect a unidirectional variation in the lengths of the steps of feed in response to an operation ineither of the two directions.

14. A folding machine-having,in combination, means for folding the marginof material, oscillating means for feeding the material to the folding means step by step, and means operable in opposite directions to effect a unidirectional variation in the extent of'the oscillations in response to an operation in either of the said opposite directions thereby to vary the lengths of the steps of feed.

15. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a rocking support, a feed point pivoted. to the support having'an open:- ing, a. rod mounted upon the support extending through the opening, a coil spring mounted. about the rod tending to maintain the feed point pressed toward the support, an armforrocking the support having a diagonally cylindrical opening, a diagonally cylindrical block mounted in the diagonally cylindrical opening, and an eccentric for actuating the block, the block being adapted to actuate the' feed point in opposition to the force exerted by the coil spring;

I 16. A machinev of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding ma terial step by step, and two separate means each. adapted to effect a uni-directional variation in the lengths of the steps of feed duringthe" operation of the machine.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding material step by step, and tWODlGELHS each adapted to vary the lengths of the steps of feed during the operation of the machine, one of the" varying means having a greaterrange of variation than the other.

18. A machine of the class described having, in.combination,.mcans for feeding material step by step, means for adjustably limiting, the lengths ofthe steps of feed, tWo cams each adapted to vary the lengths of the steps of feed, one of the cams being more pronounced than the other so as to provide for a greater range of variation than the other, and means for selectively actuating the cams.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding material step by step, means operable in two directions to effect a unidirectional variation in the lengths of the steps of feed in response to an operation in either of the two directions, and means for adjustably limiting the operation of the operable means.

20. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding material step by step, two means each adapted to vary the lengths of the steps of feed, separate means for actuating the two means, and common means for actuating the two means.

21. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding material, means operable in opposite directions for varying the feed in the same direction, and means operable during the operation of the machine for effecting the actuation of the second-named means in either of the said opposite directions to vary the feed in the said same direction.

22. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding material step by step, means operable in two directions for varying the lengths of the 30 steps of feed in the same direction and means operable during the operation of the machine for effecting the actuation of the secondnamed means in either of the said two directions to vary the lengths of the steps of feed in the said same direction.

23. A folding machine having, in combination, means for folding the margin of material, means for feeding the material to the folding means step by step, means operable 19 in two directions for varying the lengths of the steps of feed in the same direction, and means operable during the operation of the machine for effecting the actuation of the third-named means in either of the said two 4.3 directions to vary the lengths of the steps of feed in the said same direction.

2+1; A folding machine having, in combination, means for folding the margin of materia1, means for feeding the material to the foldrn ing means, means operable in opposite directions for varyingthe feed inthe same direction, and means operable during the operation of the machine for efiecting the actuation of the third-named means in either of the said 0px;; posite directions to vary the feed in the said same direction.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of November, 1924.

ANDREW It RIDDERSTROM. 

